Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Topic: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else (Read 1454 times) previous topic - next topic

Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

August 16, 2019, 11:23:18 am

I'm in NC and cannot spend the time or money to go to TX to get a FBP and headlight mod. The local RV body shop, who does really nice work (brand new downdraft spray booth), supposedly has done headlight mods and has this blank in stock he wants to use for mine. It is a vertical configuration rather than the horizontal like I see on all FT's. I do like the idea of having something different and more modern looking that I can actually use to see at night. Any thoughts?

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #1 – August 16, 2019, 12:24:01 pm

Vertical.... Horizontal... Most have a different preference and i'm not even going to mention mine because it really doesn't matter.. Whats most important is the quality of the work and you being happy with the look. I have the Extreme mod and know what it cost.. The upgrade is worth it to me but not to everyone.. If you like it go for it.. It would have to be pretty bad not to be an improvement over the 4 headlight mounted at the bottom of the panel... Just my opinion.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #2 – August 16, 2019, 12:37:22 pm

Higher is better. They look nice.
What are the part numbers for the lights themselves? Get some that you can buy later if needed.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #3 – August 16, 2019, 12:41:15 pm

You are right Dub.

I also look at it from the stand point of cost for benefit. How often do I "think" I will "have" to drive in the dark.
Have owned the coach going on 4 years and drove just once in the dark before the sun came up in Texas and that was only because of dodging a storm.
So to me at least, 4 CB's seems very spendy to have a stylish solution. I'm more apt to do a mad max add on to the existing lights. And truth be told, The low mount OEM lights is part of the unique unicoach look.

With the vertical projectors. The coach takes on a bit of a rather generic just like every other coach look. Even if it does work well.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #4 – August 16, 2019, 01:21:05 pm

The mold Xtreme uses has plenty of material to support the front generator door. If all the material is cut out to put that blank in what will support the generator hinge?

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #5 – August 16, 2019, 01:27:54 pm

Quote from: craneman – August 16, 2019, 01:21:05 pm

The mold Xtreme uses has plenty of material to support the front generator door. If all the material is cut out to put that blank in what will support the generator hinge?

Excellent point!

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #6 – August 16, 2019, 01:32:20 pm

I really like the vertical look! Please post pictures when they are complete. I am also curious how they address the generator door and final cost for comparison.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #7 – August 16, 2019, 07:12:45 pm

Even though we have the Extreme light setup, I have a major rule while on the road. I don't drive or come into a park at night. Personally, I would not have spent the coach bucks on those lights either if it did not come with the coach when we purchased it.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #8 – August 16, 2019, 07:37:32 pm

I spent the coach bucks for the conversion as I sometimes have to drive at night. Those who go from pedestal to pedestal reserved ahead of time don't need to. We dry camp, many times at walk in sites and parking lots. Having someone knock on the door at 10:00 pm. in an un-posted Wally World telling us we can't park there, means traveling somewhere else. Even at a casino in Gardnerville we were told we had to leave again at 10:00pm. Have been traveling like this for 25 years over 3 different coaches. When we bought the coach in S.C. Oct. '15 and had to drive back to L.A. it was not pleasant. This was the first coach I had ever driven at night with such poor lighting, even the '81 FTX could be driven at night. It was a blessing to find the forum and find out there was a solution though costly, to correct the issue. I drove all the way from L.A. to Xtreme to get the lights fixed. Believe me it was worth it to me. To each his own. If I could guarantee I would never have to drive at night I would have saved the money.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #9 – August 16, 2019, 07:41:35 pm

Are you wanting to change the look or just improve night vision? I put the LED headlight bulbs in our original reflector housing and the improvement is substantial.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #10 – August 16, 2019, 07:54:17 pm

I do a lot of night driving and put LED bulbs in my reflectors like Brad and now I have great light

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #11 – August 16, 2019, 07:56:36 pm

I did and do drive at night and it was a must to get done

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #12 – August 16, 2019, 08:12:20 pm

Cheap fix on newer coaches is light assembly replacement with projectors and led bulbs.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #13 – August 16, 2019, 08:15:19 pm

What brand and bulb part number was used to replace bulbs?

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #14 – August 16, 2019, 08:38:49 pm

In fact I like the stock look much better than the Xtreme mod. I really just want better light and would love to keep the stock look. There was one thread on a stock led conversion that I would prefer. I just need to nail down the details.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #15 – August 16, 2019, 08:56:06 pm

Quote from: coastalbuilder – August 16, 2019, 08:38:49 pm

In fact I like the stock look much better than the Xtreme mod. I really just want better light and would love to keep the stock look. There was one thread on a stock led conversion that I would prefer. I just need to nail down the details.

Unfortunately, no matter how bright the bulbs, led or hid they are still so low as to limit the distance you light up. If you aim them higher they will get into oncoming traffic eyes. I don't think the factory lights were even legal minimum height in Cal.

Article 2. Headlamps And Auxiliary Lamps :: Vehicle Code :: 2010 California...

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #16 – August 16, 2019, 10:31:05 pm

Is there ANYTHING that's legal in California??? Except undocumented asylum seekers that is???

Quote from: craneman – August 16, 2019, 08:56:06 pm

Unfortunately, no matter how bright the bulbs, led or hid they are still so low as to limit the distance you light up. If you aim them higher they will get into oncoming traffic eyes. I don't think the factory lights were even legal minimum height in Cal.

Article 2. Headlamps And Auxiliary Lamps :: Vehicle Code :: 2010 California...

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #17 – August 16, 2019, 10:42:38 pm

Quote from: Pyolet – August 16, 2019, 10:31:05 pm

Is there ANYTHING that's legal in California??? Except undocumented asylum seekers that is???

Pot

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #18 – August 16, 2019, 11:48:55 pm

I have looked off and on for replacement assemblies for my 97 U270 and most say use the mid 90's Bronco but doesn't that only replace the outside headlight? some say they use Chevrolet too but I think those are on newer coaches.

Might there be a list of conversions that fit?

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #19 – August 16, 2019, 11:55:04 pm

Now that explains everything!!!

Quote from: craneman – August 16, 2019, 10:42:38 pm

Pot

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #20 – August 17, 2019, 12:03:19 am

Quote from: Super8mm – August 16, 2019, 11:48:55 pm

I have looked off and on for replacement assemblies for my 97 U270 and most say use the mid 90's Bronco but doesn't that only replace the outside headlight? some say they use Chevrolet too but I think those are on newer coaches.

Might there be a list of conversions that fit?

From what I could tell the bucket might have been custom. The inner light is the same as the outside with the amber part removed. I did look for a better light before I went the Xtreme route.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #21 – August 17, 2019, 12:08:47 am

Quote from: craneman – August 17, 2019, 12:03:19 am

From what I could tell the bucket might have been custom. The inner light is the same as the outside with the amber part removed. I did look for a better light before I went the Xtreme route.

I too looked and could not find anything to replace them. Ended up replacing fog lights with some led driving lights with a sharp cut off, which helped a lot.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #22 – August 17, 2019, 12:29:03 am

With the very sharp cutoff of new LED lights these days. I wonder if one could do as I saw one Foretraveler did. (I can't find the post on it but remember seeing a picture) This person simply removed the OEM headlights & mounted a thick aluminum/stainless steel panel where the OEM lights were. As I said, With the very sharp cutoff. Seems that one could still drastically improve night driving without the major surgery. Seems it could likely be returned to stock and still offer the traditional uni-coach look.
In place of the OEM's one could install a 4 5 X 7 hi/low beam set or two dual beam 5 X 7 JW Speakers. Plenty of room and the wires are at hand.

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #23 – August 17, 2019, 12:59:53 am

I installed HID lights in a panel in the way of the original headlights on a 295. The problem I ran into with them has to do with the intensity of the lights, so bright that small pebbles and road surface would cast long shadows with them at such a low angle to the road. Moving them up cured that. (These were HID projectors.)

Re: Headlight Mod - Not Like Everyone Else

Reply #24 – August 17, 2019, 09:58:53 am

I got mine from, https://www.headlightexperts.com/carfinder/?find=2002-chevrolet-tahoe-535492. I met Bill Robinson at FOT when we were taking delivery of ours and he gave me lots of good information including the fact that our 2003 U320 used 2002 Tahoe headlights and they worked.

Affiliate Notice